Passengers in miracle escape from crashed Aeromexico plane

Passengers on board an Aeromexico plane escaped as it filled with smoke and flames after crashing in bad weather in Mexico.

The scene of the Aeromexico plane crash in Mexico.

Passengers on board an Aeromexico plane escaped through a hole in the fuselage as the aircraft was engulfed in flames after crashing in bad weather in Mexico’s central state of Durango.

Despite dramatic photographs on social media showing smoke rising from the aircraft, Durango state governor Jose Rosas Aispuro confirmed there were no fatalities in the crash.

Israel Solano Mejia, director of the city’s civil defence agency, told Foro TV that the plane, with 97 passengers and four crew on board, “made it off the ground, but fell nose-first” just a few hundred yards from the end of the runway of Guadeloupe Victoria airport.

“The nose took the hit. The most seriously injured is the pilot,” Solano Mejia said. However, he said, “the majority of passengers left (the plane) under their own power” and only 37 suffered slight injuries.

One passenger, identified as Jackeline Flores, said she and her daughter escaped from a hole in the fuselage as smoke and flames filled the aircraft. The plane had barely left the ground in heavy rain when it came down, she said, adding that her passport and documents burned in the fire. “I feel blessed and grateful to God,” she said.

Aeromexico said on its Twitter account that Flight 2431, and Embraer E-190 aircraft, had departed from Durango enroute to Mexico City at approximately 3.09pm. The 900km flight usually takes about two hours.

Officials and witnesses differed on whether the plane either fell shortly after takeoff or ran off the runway without really gaining altitude. But they agreed the plane was trying to take off during a storm.

The civil defence office of Durango state said the plane landed in a field 10 km from the airport.

Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Secretary of Communications and Transportation said: “The plane fell upon takeoff.”

Pictures on social media show a plume of smoke rising from the crashed plane with what appears to be debris scattered around it.

@Aeromexico @SCT_mx @SECTUR_mx @AICM_mx https://t.co/lo7F43uYxQ

— José Ramírez Salcedo (@JoseRamSal) July 31, 2018

Aeromexico said the aircraft involved was flight AM2431. The airline said it was aware of an “accident” in Durango and was working to verify information.

#AHORA El avión de @Aeromexico accidentado en Durango es un Embraer 190, con capacidad de 100 pasajeros. Vuelo AM2431 DGOMEX https://t.co/smrz9IhgTD pic.twitter.com/WOKbFmLVt5

— EjeCentral (@EjeCentral) July 31, 2018

The airline has nine Dreamliner planes and flies around the US, South America and to Europe. It operates the Embraer E-190 on regional routes.

Fire services attend the blaze around the crashed plane. Picture: Twitter.

The web site Planespotters.net said the Brazilian-made medium-range jet was about 10 years old and had seen service with two other airlines before joining the Aeromexico fleet.

Durango is in central Mexico. Picture: Twitter.